The Feel of Modernity on One’s Skin in 1960s Burma
In the early 1960s, before the army overthrew the civilian government, Burma maintained good ties with Japan. Prime Minister Ikeda visited Burma in the fall of 1961, and then in…
Going to the Movies in 1954 Burma
Can a trip to the movies in Rangoon in 1954 tell us anything about Burma at the time? I think it can. In fact, I think it sheds a good…
Enslaved Madrasi Girls in Colonial Burma
I was reading the Rangoon Gazette for 10 January 1890 where I found an article on “Slavery in Rangoon.” It is an article about Indian girls, from Madras in particular,…
Getting Strength from the Life Glands of Monkeys in 1950s Burma
I was looking at this Chinese newspaper from Burma in the early 1950s and came across this advertisement below. It is an advertisement for a product which claims to be…
Twentieth-Century Events From a Tai Perspective
In the late 1940s and early 1950s two of the most important events in the twentieth century took place on the Asian mainland. In 1949 there was a revolution in…
The Wex Habit in 1950s Burma
In the 1950s, Burma had just recently become independent. Its citizens were engaged in the monumental task of building a post-colonial nation. This took daily effort, but fortunately the Burmese…
Debating Industrial Civilization in 1930s Burma
One topic which I would love to read a book about is Southeast Asian intellectual history. Such a book, however, has never been written. In fact, it hasn’t even really…
Racially Ambiguous Smokers in 1960s Burma
I don't know much about Burma. I know that women historically did smoke cheroots. I could be wrong, but my sense is that today only elderly women smoke cheroots, and…
The Blessed Pigs of Burma
The picture below appeared on the front page of The Nation on 5 February 1962. The caption below the picture stated the following: GOOD DEED FOR EVERYONE’S GOOD: “If we…
Witch Doctors and Psychiatrists in 1960s Burma
I came across this fascinating article in the August 12, 1962 edition of The Nation from Burma. It is the text of a lecture given by Dr. Khin Maunt Latt…